Abstract

This article attempts a comparative study of India’s troubled borderlands, that is, Kashmir and the Northeast region. Both the regions are marked by geographical isolation, insurgent/secessionist movements, heavy militarization and external intervention. Yet, the situation in the Northeast is more complex because of its prodigious cultural diversity and heterogeneity, and as a result, conflicts exist at many different levels. However, the ethnic scenario in Kashmir is compounded by Pakistani irredentism and the presence of Hindu nationalism and communalism. These similarities and differences have been explored in terms of four factors: the rise of ethnic nationalism; the role played by external actors; the impact of globalization; and the human rights situation in the respective region. The article concludes with some recommendations for improvement of the situation on the ground